Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Tanzanian counterpart Edward Lowassa vowed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various areas during their talks in Dar es Salaam on Friday.

Wen said that the Chinese side will focus on agriculture, irrigation and infrastructure development in its economic and technological cooperation with Tanzania, so as to meet the needs of the Tanzanian side.

The Chinese government will also encourage Chinese companies to invest more in Tanzania and carry out various kinds of cooperation with Tanzanian companies, including joint ventures, said the Chinese premier during his official visit to the east African country.

Wen said over the past decades, China and Tanzania have enjoyed a friendly and cooperative relationship, which is based on mutual respect, equality and win-win principles.

He pledged to cut tariff on some Tanzanian exports to China, adding that his country would try its best to help with Tanzania's social and economic development, by providing assistance on personnel training, medical and educational infrastructure development.

While hailing Wen's visit as an important event in deepening friendship and cooperation between the two countries, Lowassa thanked the Chinese government for providing assistance to Tanzania in areas of agricultural modernization, irrigation works, infrastructure building and popularization of education, which are the current challenges for the country.

The two leaders also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

Premier Wen left Dar es Salaam Friday afternoon for Uganda, the last leg of his seven-nation Africa tour.
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(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2006)